“A Night to Forget”
Writer: Tania Del Rio
Artist(s): Tania Del Rio, Jim Amash (i), Jason Jensen (c), Teresa Davidson (l)
Publisher: Archie Comics
It’s Halloween, the one night a year magic users can openly use their powers in front of mortals, and Sabrina and her friends are hosting a party. It seems like the perfect time and place for Harvey and Sabrina to enjoy a bit of fun and romance. But before the evening is over, Sabrina will be betrayed and Harvey – well, let’s just say it doesn’t look good for him.
“A Night to Forget” is one of those perfect issues where it all comes together. The story has humor, romance, and drama, and the art compliments and enhances the writer’s vision. Tania Del Rio uses the one night when both parts of Sabrina’s life can legitimately come together to touch on just about every relationship she has. The scene might last for as much as a page or only one panel, but each one is a definitive example. Llandra and Sabrina take a moment to acknowledge how becoming involved in a steady relationship can change the dynamics of a friendship. Amy, Sabrina’s erstwhile rival for Harvey’s affections, realizes she can’t always have what she really wants. Shinji, who has been both Sabrina’s friend and boyfriend, must decide if he trusts her or the new girl in his life. Even Sabrina’s Aunt Hilda is forced to choose between her duty as a member of the Magic Council and her love for Sabrina. And then there’s Harvey whose maturity has grown exponentially over the last few issues. In one of the most heart-wrenching moments of Del Rio’s run so far, he declares “You’ve taught me how to be strong and I won’t ever forget that” just before – well, read the issue and see for yourself.
But as much as this issue is about Sabrina and Harvey, it’s also about Shinji. As mentioned above, he must decide which girl he trusts; but he must also take responsibility for what his Four Blades’ plot has brought about and how it’s going to change his relationship with Sabrina. Up until this point, it’s basically been innocent subterfuge and intrigue, but now someone – an innocent someone – has had to pay a price. It’s another turning point that will certainly have an effect down the road.
As always the art spectacularly illustrates the script. The opening panel showing a weeping Sabrina cradling Harvey is beautiful – setting the stage for the story, which is told in flashback, in a memorable and highly dramatic way. For older anime fans it’s similar in composition to a Sailor Moon scene that marked a turning point in that series. Likewise a panel depicting the pair kissing in a half-frame of flowers is both traditional shojo and reminiscent of another iconic Sailor Moon moment. Whether Del Rio intended homaging that particular work or was just using established tropes and happened to do so, it’s a nice tip of the hat to the “magic girl” who heralded the beginning of the shojo manga invasion.
Jason Jenson’s use of black here is comparable to how he’s used it in the latest Sonic the Hedgehog issues, though in Sabrina the contrast might be even greater due to the usual bright, candy-coated colored palate of the book. Each page has at least one major area of black, which not only draws the attention to that spot, but works as a reminder that this issues does not have a happy beginning or ending. It’s an excellent use of color to reinforce theme.
Speaking of that candy-coated color palate, there’s an especially nice page that looks like it comes from Sabrina’s scrapbook. Against a candy corn covered purple background, four photograph-like panels show events from the party. It’s a bright, fun-filled page, and yet readers know it’s only a temporary respite. It’s a fine example of picture and pacing working well together.
While this probably isn’t the best issue for new readers to jump in on – some of the emotional resonances will be lost – this is an exceptional chapter in the continuing storyline.
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